State Representative Regina Bunch followed through on her promise concerning the speeding ticket she received in May, paying the fines and court costs totaling $182.
Bunch was initially cited by Lexington Police for travelling 109 mph as she was travelling north near the 108-mile marker of Interstate 75. The posted speed limit is 70 mph.
Officials at Fayette District Court said Bunch’s ticket includes a $39 fine and $143 in court costs. Based on a chart setting out the fines in Kentucky, Bunch admitted to travelling 19 mph over the posted speed limit. Officials said there was nothing to indicate Bunch lost any points on her license.
If Bunch had been found guilty of the initial charge of speeding 26 mph or greater over the limit, the judge could have suspended her driver’s license for 90 days.
A show-cause hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 21. Court officials said that is the day by which the ticket must be paid. If it is not paid, Bunch must appear in court to explain why and may ask for additional time to do so.
The Lexington Herald-Leader initially quoted Bunch as saying she planned to fight the ticket, which she said did not state exactly how fast she was travelling.
On her Facebook page and in a later interview, Bunch emphasized that she would plead guilty and pay the ticket.
“I want to be treated like everybody else,” Bunch said.
“I don’t think I’m above the law or anything,” she said.
Bunch added that while she was speeding, she could not say exactly how fast she was going. However, she claims she was going with the flow of traffic.
At the time, Bunch said she was preoccupied with getting from Williamsburg to Frankfort to meet a group of students from Whitley County Middle School who were scheduled to have their picture taken with Governor Steve Beshear.
This was the second such incident for Bunch within the last year.
In August, Bunch was cited for doing 91 mph in a 70 mph zone. The charge was dismissed, along with several other traffic offenses.
Bunch said it was dismissed because there were multiple instances of incorrect information on the ticket.
In light of the most recent incident, Bunch said she is paying more attention to her speed and hopes her situation draws attention to the dangers of speeding.
“I’m going to mess up,” Bunch said. “I’m human.”
